I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

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I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:18-23

This morning, I continued with John Piper's Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture, covering chapter ten - Reading toward the Consummation. Here, Piper seeks to unpack the final of six implications that flow from the ultimate goal of reading the Bible (as listed here); this implication is "so that more and more people would be drawn into the worshiping family of God until the bride of Christ-across all centuries and cultures-is complete in number and beauty."

Here, Piper describes the previous two chapters and how our reading of the Bible leads to seeing and savoring the glory of God and how we are then transformed by this seeing and savoring. Piper states that "[God] creates, gathers, transforms, and finally perfects a family of worshipers to fill the coming new earth with the glory of the Lord." As he starts to unpack the final and sixth implication from above, he steps back and looks at "God's roundabout way of preparing a bride" - the church.  God initially "chose a single ethnic group" - the Jews - but then due to Israel's disobedience, "God turned his direct and special focus of special revelation away from Israel and focused his saving work on the creation of a family from all the nations."  He then moves on to describe a time when the number in the family of God will be complete. Our transformation continues "until its completion at the coming of Christ. At that moment, in the coming of the Lord, the bride will be perfect in number in beauty." Piper writes that this moment will arrive with "certainty" referencing 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:7-9, and Philippians 1:6. Finally, Piper writes that this certainty is contingent on our continuing in the faith - we must have faith and continue in our transformation process through the reading of scripture - we must endure to the end.  See also Matthew 24:13, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 3:6.

We must continue to the end so that we fill the new earth as described in Romans 8:18-23.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has created and saved a place for me in Heaven, the New Earth.  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life - You bless me immeasurably and I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Your Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.